Giants re-signing WR Sterling Shepard to one-year contract for eighth NFL season with team
Career Giant Sterling Shepard is running it back for an eighth season in New York on a one-year contract, a source confirmed to the Daily News.
Shepard, 30, is the longest-tenured current Giants player as a second-round pick of ex-GM Jerry Reese out of Oklahoma in 2016.
He is rehabbing a torn left ACL suffered in last year’s Week 3 Monday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys. But he made 13 catches for 154 yards and a TD on 24 targets in three games before going down and intends to contribute once healthy this fall.
His 65-yard touchdown catch and run from Daniel Jones in Week 1 helped the Giants to a defining victory over the Tennessee Titans that set the tone for a playoff season that exceeded expectations.
He was also part of the team’s heartbeat even after his season-ending injury, with contagious energy on the sidelines at games, on the field at practices and inside the locker room.
He even helped coach and provide tips to wide receivers, including midseason waiver claim Isaiah Hodgins, who provided a shot in the arm to Brian Daboll’s offense after arriving in early November.
Shepard’s contract is a one-year, $1.3 million deal with no guarantees, according to The Athletic. It’s a veteran salary benefit contract, so the cap hit will come in lower around $1.1 million. He can earn $152,500 in per game roster bonuses.
It will be interesting to see if the return of Shepard and Saquon Barkley results in the Giants re-signing Odell Beckham Jr., too.
Barkley and Shepard stumped hard for an OBJ reunion in December when the Giants courted their former star wideout and no doubt are eager to see it happen now if the money works out.
